CENTRE WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington staff are once again seeking council direction on what the township’s role should be in dealing with termites.
A report going forward at a meeting Monday lays out two options for Centre Wellington council to choose from regarding termite control.
Option one would see the township continue with a “passive approach” to termites which focuses on public education with periodic termite surveys.
Option two is to release a negotiated request for proposal for a pest control company to take on a proactive termite management program.
This wouldn’t be the township’s first crack at a termite management program in recent years. In August 2022, the last term of council approved entering into negotiations with Balson Preventative Solutions Inc. at an upwards limit of $200,000.
This work was to include nematode treatments at properties with known termite activity, termite information and education services, spring and fall yard wood waste cleanup and reporting on properties requiring enforcement under the termite bylaw for a one year term.
A survey of neighbourhoods in Fergus and Elora in 2021 —an action originally stemming from a council motion in early 2020 — determined there were 259 properties with active termite activity, referred to as a ‘red zone’ property, and a further 219 ‘blue zone’ properties surrounding the red zone at risk of infestation.
This work was anticipated to start in the fall of 2022 but for undisclosed reasons, an agreement could not be reached between the township and pest control company and no action was taken.
A report was also tabled with the January 2023 council agenda with staff recommending a grant program to assist homeowners in funding termite treatment on private property. Consideration of this report was deferred as the township received correspondence in opposition to this grant program with concerns it would not adequately address the problem, according to this latest report.
Should council go with option two, staff are recommending the township outline the existing problem and allow vendors to propose a solution to the termite problem, rather than giving a scope of work to do.
“Township staff are not termite experts, therefore it is recommended to request solutions from the expert vendors,” the report said.
Staff also propose there to be “project milestone off-ramps” and service level agreements clearly defined to ensure the township is safeguarded against long-term project expenditures if expected results are not being satisfied.
The report warns the costs for this would likely be higher than has been set aside for so far.
Using the Township of Woolwich’s program to compare costs, the budget for that township’s program is $60,000 per year over five years to address 78 red zone properties and 61 blue zone properties.
With 478 red and blue zone properties in Centre Wellington, staff estimated this would cost over $1 million over five years. Right now, there’s $200,000 set aside and pre-approved for this purpose.
If remaining costs were spread out over five years, future budgets would need to contribute $166,400 annually representing a one per cent tax increase.
Full report can be found here.
